Hmmm...
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o
"Sarah," Toby starts as he gets out of her car. "I don't know how I feel about this,"
"Well, you shouldn't have accepted it, then." she replies as she shuts the car door. "Now, when we go in, you are an adult. No, perverse jokes, no stupid puns, and please, no farting." she says wiping any access dust off his shoulders.
"I don't want to do this,"
"Then you shouldn't have agreed to it." Sarah says as she takes a folded piece of paper out of her pocket to read it.
"Well, I changed my mind."
"Too bad. You agreed to it, so you're going in, and that's final." she says handing him the note. "Now you get to find the place."
"L-lets just go home... I can call and say I caught something-"
"She, literally, just invited you to this 2 hours ago- quit being a baby and just find the house."
"Sarah, this is just weird!" he says hopelessly as she starts to look for the house.
"Hey, you don't think that this isn't the absolute freaking weirdest thing for me, either? You're dragging me for the ride, too, you know."
"Why is this so weird for you?"
Sarah stops in her tracks... 'Shit,' She gulps. 'Fuck, what do I say?'
...
"Uh-" 'Oh, come on!' "Because!" she throws her hands up in the air. "S-she's my student- your classmate. And I'm having dinner at her house." 'okay...' "Don't get me wrong, I am deeply flattered, but... it's a little weird- you know just give me the damn note." she says walking, with haste, looking for the matching address.
"All the more reason not to go through with this, right?"
"Weren't you the one bitching about not getting rewarded for being a hero?" Sarah asks side-glancing him in judgement.
"Getting cornered, questioned, and tortured by her uncle was not exactly what I had in mind..."
"Oh Lord, can you be anymore dramatic? We are just having dinner with them." 'Besides. I am the one that will be cornered and questioned tonight...' "What could he possibly question you about?" 'except me?'
"I just know he knows I like her. And I know what goes down with crap like this."
"Dude, you're 17. Why is this still a thing? Shouldn't 13 year old boys with sex-drive problems be worrying about stuff like this?"
"That's not funny,"
"Besides, if you were uncomfortable with it, why did you agree to it?"
"Because I thought he was going to burn me with his eyes if I refused-"
Sarah smiles an evil smile. "You just want to have a date with Francesca,"
"N-not with you there!" Toby slaps his face in defeat. "I am such an idiot."
"You're not an idiot." Sarah reassured him. "Just..." she finally matches the address with a lovely town home in front of them. "Just never say the words "Thank you". Only say "You are very kind", or "I appreciate your kindness," or something like that."
"Huh?"
"And always think before you speak. And I mean that. Don't just blurt the first thing that pops into your head."
"Sarah-"
"And if they offer you honey, just accept it. I don't care if you hate the stuff. Just accept it."
"What are you talking about?"
Sarah takes a deep breath before continuing with a smile. "Just be courteous and kind. Kindness will get you far, wherever you go." they both look up the small flight of stairs. "Okay, ready?"
"No,"
"Good," she pushes him up the stairs one by one,right before pulling him back down again. "Do you have any iron on you?"
"...I don't think so? Sarah you're scaring me..."
"Oh, you're fine. Let's go-" she pushes him back up again.
"Oh, God,"
"You're gonna be fine."
"No, I mean that I just realized something..."
"And what is that?" she asks as she knocks on the door which doesn't help her heart dropping to the floor...
"If he has wine, you're gonna be mackin' on him by the end of the night-OW!" she slaps him upside the head just as the door opens.
Her heart goes from her toes to her throat in an instant.
'Holy crap... He wasn't just an illusion...'
"Welcome to our home," Mr. Kingsley says with a gentle voice, inviting the two siblings in.
O.o
*Two Hours Earlier*
"This is fantastic!" Sarah exclaims for the world to hear, letting her brain, momentarily get the best of her. Realizing what she had just said, acquiring all eyes to her, her eyes grow immensely. "Uhh- Francesca, I don't believe that I have had the opportunity to meet your-um... guardian?" she tries so hard to keep her cool.
Francesca, realizing that she has been extremely rude, bounces back to formality. "Uh-right. Ms. Williams, Toby, this is my Uncle. I am staying with him for the remainder of the school year. He is the reason why I am able to attend here." she smiles while hugging his arm.
It took a moment for it to register in her brain... 'Jareth? A parental guardian? Uncle? Here? What?' "Y-yes," she smiles a routine smile. "I-It's a pleasure," she holds out an unsure, yet friendly hand.
He slowly, but surely takes a hold of it, as light as a feather and pulls it up. "The pleasure is all mine." his reply is striking as he lightly lie a chaste kiss upon her hand.
'H-holy shit! So this isn't a nightmare- well I don't know how it can be since I'm not shacking up on the school stairs over there... Oh shit, did I just set up my next dream? God I hope not!'
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Kingsley." Toby says with a friendly voice, offering a strong hand to shake.
"Likewise, young man," the shake is firm yet respectful.
"Ms. Williams and Toby are actually brother and sister." Francesca speaks out.
"Is that right?" he asks tilting his head in an amused fashion.
"Yes," Sarah is trying SO HARD to keep calm.
"It must be cool to have a teacher as a sister." Francesca's sheepishly adds with a blush to Toby.
"Yeah, you would think-" Sarah quickly bumps him off balance with her hip, making Francesca giggle.
"As I understand, you, sir, are responsible for this scene here," Mr. Kingsley has now become less than kind as his serious side starts to come out.
Toby quickly becomes embarrassed. "I-well-I just... umm... heh" he scratches his head. "Sir, I am so sorry for what has happened today, but-"
"No, Uncle. It wasn't all his doing. Please don't frighten him like that." Francesca defends her friend.
"Toby was trying to help your niece." Sarah cheeps like a frightened bird trying to sound brave. "He saw her in trouble and tried to help her." Sarah stands by her brother. "And though his actions were less than mature, he just didn't want any injustice to happen."
Mr. Kingsley quirks an eyebrow at her.
"And because Toby helped me, I had to help him. I wasn't going to let that jackass-sorry... Get away." Francesca says with strength.
"So I see, so you are responsible for what has happened today." he nods in understanding. "Perhaps, a treat shall be in order, then?"
"Huh?" Toby was dumbfounded.
"If a hero such as yourself would be so kind, we would be honored if you would grace us with your presence tonight? An act such as this should not go unrecognized, wouldn't you say?" Mr. Kingsley adds tapping a hand on Francesca's shoulder. "A home cooked meal to celebrate, along with acceptable company to boot."
"That's very kind of you, Mr. Kingsley," Sarah stands protectively in front of her brother. "But you don't have to-"
"With all due respect, Ms. Williams," Mr. Kingsley stops her, looking at her square in her, rather lovely, eyes, with some kind of knowing. "This offer is only meant for this young man." his smirk was that of brilliance and and smugness. Her silence said it all as he drew his attention back to the boy.
"Toby, what would you like to do?" Sarah, a little insulted, invites him to answer, mind racing about this gentleman before her.
Francesca looks to him with hopeful eyes.
Toby looks like a deer in headlights.
...
"Um..." he staggers. "Sure, thank you." Francesca's smile had never been bigger. "But only if I can bring my sister too." he clings to his sister so fast.
"Yes. I would love to have you over, Ms. Williams." Francesca adds. "You're my favorite teacher. Just don't tell any of the other's." she playfully whispers.
"This is going to prove to be quite an interesting night, indeed." Mr. Kingsley smiles with a catlike grin that makes Sarah's hair stand on end.
"Oh, let me give you my address." Francesca says grabbing Toby's hand to pull him to the side while she writes it down in one of her notebooks.
"This is very kind of you, Mr. Ki-"
"I, kind?" he acts surprised to someone say such a thing. "How refreshing to hear." his eyes pierce hers, in such a way that she is unable to look away. "I am often told otherwise."
He leaves Sarah with no voice, whatsoever. No matter how she tries to reply, she just can't.
"How does 7 p.m. sound?" he turns to his niece.
"Sounds, good, Uncle."
"Good," returns to see a woman who can no longer look him in his unique eyes. "I am told that I am not a very nice person, Ms. Williams. Though, when someone tells me such a thing, it usually means that I am doing my job." he admits to her as he shifts his eyes to her so she can't escape his heavy gaze on her. "It turns out that I am only kind to people who deem worthy of my kindness." his words are so simple, but they hit her right in the gut.
Sarah takes a deep breath as if she had just been beaten up by a gang of people. She can't say anything else to him.
"T-Toby we have to go," she sharply inhales, never releases her gaze with him. "We have to get ready."
"Yeah," he says standing. Francesca stands and gives him a friendly hug.
"See you tonight." she exclaims. She is so excited to have them over.
O.o
*Back to the Present*
"You have made it just in time, Francesca and I have finished dinner, if you will be so kind as to follow me." Mr. Kingsley says as he makes their way from the foyer into the dining room where a lovely dinner is set out for everyone.
"Hi Toby," Francesca greets her friend with a wave and a blush as she sets the last place setting on the table.
"Hi Francesca." he replies. "You look very pretty."
"That is very nice of you, Toby." her smile never leaves as she waits for her uncle to say the word. "You look handsome yourself."
"If you will allow me," Mr. Kingsley says as he pulls out a chair at one end of the table. "Ms Williams," he is quite the gentleman.
"You are very kind," she says in respect. Mr. Kingsley releases a small smile of gratitude as she sits herself down.
"Oh... Here you go," Toby does the same with the first chair he sees, trying to be a gentleman, too.
Her eyes glisten at the kind gesture. "You have my thanks, Toby." her smile only grows as she accepts the kind offer. She smiles to her uncle as if she were seeing stars.
They continue to eat in silence, give or take a few conversational topics. Sarah is weary of the food, though, with not having the most wonderful experience with eating food generously offered by Mr. Kingsley. She doesn't even want to chance Toby eating it, but what is she to say in such a delicate situation? As cowardice as it may be, she waits until she sees what may happen to Toby before she eats, herself. After such an anti-climatic scene of Toby just really enjoying his food, she slowly eases more and more into this interesting night. The more the night goes on, much to Sarah's surprise, it is becoming a quaint and harmless evening. After eating one of the most delicious meals that Sarah has ever had the pleasure of eating, they all retire to the living area as Francesca offers to make a pot of tea. All the while, Toby speaks endless complements to their well decorated home.
"This is a really cool house, Mr. Kingsley." Toby sits looking at everything he can see.
"How kind of you to say," he says looking around himself as Francesca comes in with the tea.
"Uncle has is a historian folklore, mainly European." she says as she pours everyone a cup of tea. "He knows all there is about the Faerie and what inhabitants the... more mystical, mythical places. He knows every mythical creature like you know all the animals names in the zoo." she says bringing out the milk and sugar.
The home was absolutely lovely, filled with paintings, wall decor that looked to be hand made by different kinds of materials, such as wood and moss. There are, what looks to be breakable artifacts placed in special sealed shadow boxes that show, what Sarah imagines to be, several lifetimes of study and treasure-finding. In every crease and crevice in this home, there is something new to stare at and wonder of its origin. It looks more like a folklore museum than an actual home.
Sarah, especially, will look to find something, almost too familiar, and remember strange mental images. This continues with just about everything she sees. Everything looks as if, if she were to touch it, she would remember it. She has the overwhelming feeling about... something... she just can't put her finger what this feeling is inside of her. Familiarity? Anxiety? It's almost giving her a headache.
She completely spaces out for a few moments, not able to keep up with all that had just been said.
"That is really cool," Toby starts. "You know, Sarah knows everything about this kind of stuff, too." Sarah snaps back to reality.
"What?" she looks to her brother with large eyes.
"Yeah, sis. You know. Fairies, unicorns, dwarfs, mermaids, goblins, she knows all about that stuff." he reverts back to Francesca and her uncle.
"Goblins?" Mr. Kingsley specifically repeats. "You dabble in folklore, Ms. Williams?" he asks, legs crossed, tea at hand.
'Oh, I am going to murder him!' - "C-comes with the job of teaching AP English, I guess." she chuckles nervously, desperately trying to keep from looking too suspicious.
"Oh, please. That's all she talked about when we were younger. She had movies, books, posters, and even drew pictures of-"
"Kids right?!" Sarah gulps. She had to shut him up. "Can't live with 'em?" she turns to Toby with the word "kill" in her eyes.
"I actually find the curiosity of a child to be quite intriguing, Ms. Williams." Mr. Kingsley says to further the discussion. "The passion that drives them to believe, what most would consider impossible, the faith to believe the way they do, and the will that can be so strong to accomplish what they can, is quite astonishing. that is more than what I can say about most any adult that I have come to meet in my lifetime." he continues. "Though you may have only been a child at the time, Ms. Williams, what you learned of the world of the faerie has now led you here at this very moment of your life, has it not?" he leans forward to see a very frightened Sarah with a very good poker face. "You, who was once a temple of endless yearn for imagination and learning are now, what I imagine to be a very distinguished woman of literature, teaching all you can to further the imagination and creation of what what is yet to come?" his words are turning in to more of a monologue. "There is nothing more valuable than knowledge, Ms. Williams, and you give it, with expertise," his eyes light up. "or so that is what I am told my my niece."
Sarah just couldn't take it anymore. "Toby!" she jumps away, far away from this discussion of her to try to start a new one. "Why don't you share with us your plans after graduation." She smiles with a silent demand to change the subject. Sibling telepathy is common for these two. "Tell them what you want to do."
"Yes, Toby. I am very interested in hearing of your plans." Francesca suddenly says. "Are you going to University?" she seems generally interested.
"Yeah," Toby smugly smiles. "I- I wanna be a lawyer, help people fight the dirty fights, like my dad." he says sheepishly.
"Do you look up to your father?" Mr. Kingsley asks.
"Yeah, I do." Toby is honest. "There is so much injustice in the world, like... what almost happened... today." he pauses nervously. "A-and when I first started high school during the summers, I would go and watch my dad in action. The way he still fights for people is awesome. I have wanted to do what he does for a long time."
"Oh that is wonderful, Toby!" Francesca cheers him on. "I just know that you can make such a huge difference with people. I'm living proof!" her smile beams.
"That is quite the admirable decision, Toby. Very respectable and always in demand out there." Mr Kinsgley adds. "I imagine you must already have several scholarships for your school of choice."
"W-well..." Toby stutters. "I want to do to Harvard, but I'm not exactly rich-"
"That's a good school," Mr. Kingsley says, almost as if he were giving his blessing. "Some of the best have studied in those halls, even the better ones, teach."
"Yeah, but I can only get so much with scholarship and grants. And the thought of being in that much debt, I am just going to go somewhere else-"
"Do you want to go to Harvard, Toby?" Mr. Kingsley asks such a simple question, but requires a difficult answer.
"Well yeah, but-"
"Were you accepted?"
Toby's eyes grow. "...yeah,"
"Then how about we make a deal?"
"Umm... a deal?" Toby suddenly turns to his sister.
Mr. Kingsley leans towards Toby to make sure that he has his full attention. "Use the rest of the school year, as well as this summer to apply for every scholarship you can earn at Harvard, and whatever you get, I will double it."
"What?" Toby gasps, wondering if just heard that correctly. "What?!"
"Uncle-"
Sarah just drops her jaw, the lost her voice a LONG time ago.
"Mr. Kingsley, I can't let you-"
"This is a small price to pay for what you did today, Young man."
"All I did was-"
"I know what you did." Mr Kinsgley stands up. "I would rather use my money to help with a student's tuition than to waste it trying to free my niece in this messed up judicial system." he turns to face Toby. "Hopefully with more people like you in it, it can actually work in the favor of its people for a change."
Toby was utterly speechless, Sarah almost wasn't there anymore. It was absolutely crazy, what was happening before them!
"I-I-I..." Toby bursts out in to a laugh. "I can't believe this- Sarah!" he turns to a flabbergasted Sarah. "I'm going to Harvard! Wait 'till dad hears about this!" he turns to his friend. "Did you know-"
Francesca shakes her head. "No, I had no idea!"
"Thank you so- I-I mean I greatly appreciate this. This is amazing. I-I don't know what to say!"
"Let's celebrate!" Francesca jumps in. "There is an ice cream shoppe just around the corner."
"Okay," Toby likes the idea.
"Uncle?"
"You have my permission. I, however, am going to stay and clean."
"Ms. Williams?" Francesca asks in invitation. Sarah is still in awestruck mode, not realizing someone just asked her a question. "Ms Williams..." Quickly snapping back, she stands and sees Francesca clinging to Toby's arm in excitement. She thinks this may be a good time for them to be alone.
"You know, I'm good. I think I am going stay... and help." she avoids looking to a rather smug Mr. Kingsley.
"O-kay." Francesca agrees, liking the idea of enjoying her time with Toby. They both walk out together, playfully arguing on who is going to pay for the treat.
Leaving Sarah there.
Alone.
With Jareth.
'Oh shit...'
She tries to speak. "T-That was...um... Extremely generous of you, but I have to ask wh-"
"Generous?" he suddenly asks spinning to finally look to her, eyes piercing hers with damnation. "What have I ever done that's generous?" his rhetorical grin hits her in a way that makes her want to run.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o
The next one is bound to be interesting, no?
I.L.C